The Andy Burnham government has been urged to ban imports of Brazilian meat over health concerns, after Brazil failed to prove compliance with European Union rules on the use of antibiotics in cattle and poultry farming. The Labour Party government is now under pressure from the UK’s leading farming organisations and animal health experts, who have called for an urgent ban on Brazilian beef and chicken imports.
Farming groups demand urgent action
The National Farmers’ Union in England and its sister organisations in the devolved administrations wrote to the government on Friday, calling for the ban. The move follows concerns that Brazilian production systems do not meet the same standards required in the UK and EU regarding antibiotic use in livestock.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is at the centre of the campaign. Cóilín Nunan, of the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics, said: “The rise of antibiotic resistance is a global health crisis. Each year it is directly responsible for about 1.14m deaths and associated with 4.71m deaths.”
Global health risks from imported meat
Nunan added: “We know that resistant pathogens can spread internationally on food. So why are we still importing meat from countries like Brazil that are allowing the irresponsible use on intensive farms of even the most critically important antibiotics?” The comments highlight the international dimension of AMR, with food imports acting as a potential vector for resistant bacteria.
The UK government has responded to the concerns. A spokesperson for Defra told the Guardian: “Our experts have sought urgent information and assurances from Brazil as part of a rapid assessment of beef and poultry production systems to ensure our high food and animal welfare standards are being met, while closely monitoring market impacts of the EU ban.”
Government defends import controls
The Defra spokesperson added: “This government will always act to protect our farmers and the public with our world-leading robust import controls which are in place to protect animal and public health.” The statement underscores the government’s position that existing measures are sufficient, while acknowledging the need for a rapid assessment.
The NFU’s presidents also weighed in, stating: “Ensuring the health and safety of the nation is a core responsibility of any government and the UK has long recognised the risks posed by AMR.” They emphasised that UK farmers have worked hard to cut antibiotic use and maintain some of the highest production standards in the world.
Consumer confidence at stake
The NFU presidents concluded: “We should demand the same of our imported food. Failure to act will not only expose the nation to a public health risk, but damage consumer confidence in beef and poultry as a whole.” The statement links the issue directly to public trust in the food supply chain.
The call for a ban comes amid broader scrutiny of trade standards, with the EU already having moved to restrict Brazilian imports. The UK government’s rapid assessment will determine whether similar measures are needed, with market impacts being closely monitored. The outcome will have significant implications for both public health and the farming sector.
